New Zealand Tablet Fiat Justitia.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 46, 14 March 1874, Page 5

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1874. THE DUNEDIN ELECTION.

To us the result of the recent election has been an agreeable disappointment and a surprise. In our last issue we said an enemy was sure to be returned, and we assigned this conviction as a reason for not taking much interest in the matter. Our surprise, therefore, was great when the Eeturning Officer declared Mr Reeves to be at the head of the poll. This gentleman, though a Secularist on principle, is nevertheless prepared to advocate the giving of aid out of the general taxation to Denominational schools. Three years ago, any candidate making such an avowal would be hooted off the Dunedin hustings. During the last few years, therefore, public opinion has changed very much ; and a more liberal and just spirit seems now to animate a very large section of the citizens. It would be a mistake, however, to fancy that Mr Beeves' views on education secured his return. No doubt these views gained him the support of Denominationalists ; but, we think, there are as yet too few in Dunedin to be able to return a man of their choice. Mr Heeyes, most probably, owes his seat in the Provincial Council to his well-known principles on the land question. j Still, it cannot be denied, that on the education ques- : tion a considerable advance has been made. A few years I ago, no one offering himself to the constituency, no matter ! how orthodox might be his principles in reference to the , land, would have dared to say that he would even so much ! as consider the claims of Denominational schools to State i aid. Such a profession, on the part of the most popular , candidate, would- have been fatal to his prospects of eleci tion. The Otago system was then in the estimation of all, I Catholics excepted, an almost perfect system. To dare to 1 doubt this was at that time political heresy, and the ex- , pression of such a doubt drew forth such a storm of indig- ; nation that timid ni-en became alarmed. "We well rememj ber how, about three years ago, it was extremely difficult to induce any of our city members even to present our I petition on education to the Provincial Couucil ; and, when the question was discussed, only four out of forty members j voted in our favour, and these four were country members. j The result of the late election, therefore, may be regarded as an indication that the claims of Denomination- ! alists will at least receive respectful consideration at the ! hands of the constituencies. The- tyrannical spirit that t would refuse us a hearing is dying out, and a spirit of justice and fair-play beginning to animate the electors. It is said that'Mr Reeves owes his election to the workingj men. Of this, however, there is no certainty, the secrecy I of the ballot box, it is to be hoped, is inviolable ; but if the statement be really true, we beg to thank the working-men of Dunedin for this intelligent and liberal exercise of their , franchise, and the noble example they have given to many \ men who boast of their enlightenment and statesmanlike views, whilst in reality sunk down into the slough of , ligotry and narrow-mindedness. The Provincial Council would do well to study the lesson taught them, and all our aspiring politicians, by the return of Mr Reeves to the Council., The electors are evidently profoundly disgusted with the administration of , the laud laws ; and are only anxious for more opportunities !of doing as they have done in Mr Reeves 's ea-se. The

pretence of settling people on the land will suffice no longer. The electors, above all the working men, will be satisfied with nothing less than the reality. When Mr Reid was in power there was no settlement, and the excuse was the state of the law. To remedy what he conceived to be defects, he introduced a new land bill, which in its main features is now law. But the settlement seems to be as far off as ever. For this, however, Mr Reid can hardly be blamed, the administration of the laws carried by his party has been confided to different hands. But even Mr Jleid was not an advocate for any very extensive settlement. He and his party wanted the land for their children, at least he said so in the House of Representatives. And as to Mr Macandeew and the party now in power, it appears to us that they are not really desirous to dispose of the land to small proprietors. So far from there being any proof of a 6incere desire on their part to promote the settlement of such, there is abundant evidence of the contrary. The people can see this and are indignant. It is well for Mr Macandbew and the members of his Executive that they have not now to seek re-election. The people look upon them as shams, and had they an opportunity they would treat them as such. As we have often said before, we do not think that any of our statesmen, whether in the General Government or in the Provincial Council, are really anxious for the bona fide settlement of the land. It has been often said that the land laws of the Province of Otago are not bad, and that all that is required is an honest administration of them. Mr Cabgill said as much the other day, when canvassing the constituency of Dunedin, and other high authorities are of the same opinion. Who is to blame then ? When Mr Reid was in office, the misunderstanding between him and the Superintendent | was assigned as a reason for the do-nothing-policy at that time. Nothing of the sort exists now to thwart the Superintendent. His Honor has now an Executive to his own heart ; still the people who are clamouring for the land, and who are ready and willing to settle down on it and cultivate it on any reasonable terms, can not in many places get an acre. A general election of Representatives is at hand, the next session will be the last of the present Parliament, and no doubt the people will mark their sense of the treatment they have received from many politicians by consigning them to domestic duties and the peace of private life.